HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM HERE?

Our industry’s past success will show us a roadmap for the future if we dig deep and remember we are the innovators and entrepreneurs of mobile electronics.

All of us—every installer, salesperson, manager, owner, sales rep, manufacturer and industry reps—make up a dynamic group which we proudly call the mobile electronics industry. We are all subject to setbacks and triumphs, and right now we are in the midst of a crisis. Each day, we try to move the needle in the right direction, hoping to secure the future for our respective companies and ourselves. Though we’ve started with our best intentions, we’re often met with disappointment. It appears we all want the same thing, but the results are not comprised of the same victories we enjoyed in the past.

We meet in online forums to get on the same page or discuss approaches to problem-solving, but we end up with the same results. We brainstorm, analyze and decide, only to realize the outcome is simply a different method to achieve the same end.

We must make every effort to remove doubt, uncertainty and fear so every decision produces a calculated result and moves us closer to reaching our goals. Remember: Failure teaches us to continue to challenge the problem until we produce outcomes that ensure our survival. So, what is the problem?

The way I see it, the mobile electronics industry is facing our most significant challenge since the beginnings of the industry back in the 1970s. We must address complex issues and create innovative solutions in the midst of a global problem none of us have ever faced before. Consumers need to be able to continue enjoying the latest technologies in their vehicles while feeling comfortable and safe as they return to your retail stores.

What should this look like as life begins to return to normal? None of us know the timeline, and none of us have the solution for how we will market and sell in this new environment. It will be uncomfortable at first. We will need to share our findings, both positive and negative. This is necessary, as the results of these new business procedures are unpredictable. We must learn from our own mistakes, as well as the mistakes of others, while never repeating the elements that fall short of what we define as great success.

As an industry, we must dig deep and come together to produce success that will secure our future. We need to think through the current situation and look for the best way to provide innovative solutions for positive change. If our businesses are to survive, we must grasp tried and true methods that always produce results by moving forward in a calculated manner while never losing our focus on the core principles that produced our successes in the first place.

Of course, we all suffer from too much to do and the constant pressure produced by the next available opportunity. Our past is filled with days, weeks and months that have turned into years. Years that, on occasion, provide us with unpleasant dismay when we see our mistakes.

As we look for the new normal, we should all be studying other retail segments to see how they are overcoming current challenges with innovative solutions.

If change is equal to our survival, then why do so many of us lose direction during times like these? As an industry, we face the ultimate challenge: to exist. Social distancing, and the ways in which we’ve had to adjust, causes us to look at our past for accomplishments and draw ideas from them. We must embrace change, create a clear roadmap to success and offer innovative solutions that provide hope for our customers. We are not on the losing team. With every calculated step, we seek to solidify our future as an industry.

We must have hope that our innovations and ideas will carry us through the mire to build a firm foundation for our collective futures. I really believe the future of our industry is a bright one for those of us who never give up and focus on what is always in front of us—great people with great ideas. This is what has sustained us so far, and I think it will also carry us through. Stay safe and healthy, my friends!

As an industry, we must dig deep and come together to produce success that will secure our future. We need to think through the current situation and look for the best way to provide innovative solutions for positive change.